GAME NOTES: A reeling Arizona State squad will play host to a Washington State
team that is experiencing some turmoil late in the season, when the Cougars
land in Sun Devil Stadium for a Pac-12 matchup.

After star receiver Marquess Wilson left the team Washington State's roster
became less talented. However it was the accusations of "abuse" by Wilson
against the Cougars' coaching staff that may have really put a black mark on
the squad. Head coach Mike Leach has since responded contrary to Wilson's
accusations. Leach was fired from his head coaching job at Texas Tech in 2009
for similar allegations. All that turmoil is certainly not a help to a team
that is just 2-8 overall this season and yet to win a conference game (0-7).

A promising beginning to the season has been washed away for Arizona State
after the Sun Devils lost their fourth straight game last weekend at USC. The
38-21 defeat puts the Sun Devils at an even 5-5 overall this season. Arizona
State had played solidly on defense through the first five games but has been
torched during the losing streak. In the four losses, Arizona State has given
up at least 36 points and 420 yards per game.

Arizona State leads the all-time series between these teams with a 23-13-2
record against Washington State. The Sun Devils have also won seven of the
last eight meetings although last season Washington State pulled out a 37-27
win in Pullman fueled by a 494-yard, four-touchdown passing effort from Connor
Halliday.

Losing Wilson, who still holds team leads in most receiving categories, would
hurt just about any team but the Cougars offensive game plan makes his absence
even more apparent. Under Leach, Washington State has almost entirely ignored
the run in favor of the pass, part of Leach's Air Raid system. On the season
Washington State is the worst rushing team in the nation (32.9 ypg) but is the
sixth best passing team in the Pac-12 (337.5 ypg).

Connor Halliday got the majority of the snaps against UCLA and turned in a
strong performance throwing for 330 yards and five touchdowns on 26-of-43
passing. Jeff Tuel also saw time in the game completing 11-of-14 passes for
127 yards. Leach has spent the entire season deciding on a permanent starter
but at this point it doesn't seem like he will settle on either. Tuel is the
superior passer in terms of completion percent (64.6) but has thrown for fewer
yards and touchdowns. Halliday has thrown for 1,705 yards and 14 scores but
has been intercepted 12 times. Neither has an advantage in the number of
attempts with Tuel at 263 and Halliday at 258. Tuel is listed as probable for
Saturday's game with a collarbone issue.

With Wilson out, Dominique Williams and Bobby Ratliff played much more
prominent roles in the Washington State offense against the Bruins. Williams
hauled in seven passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns while Ratliff finished
with a game-high 123 yards. The pair have combined for only 44 receptions and
665 yards this season. Gave Marks (44 receptions, 528 yards) and Brett
Bartolone (46 receptions, 360 yards, 4 TDs) are the more likely heirs to
Wilson. Isiah Myers (37 receptions, 380 yards) is listed as questionable this
weekend.

Sustained drives have been a killer for the Washington State defense. The
Cougars have the second worst opponent third down conversion rate (47.0
percent) in the Pac-12 meaning that its defensive unit is often on the field
for long stretches of time. With that type of defensive resistance Washington
State is surrendering 427.5 yards of total offense per game while giving up an
even 33 points a contest.

One stalwart on the defensive side of the ball has been Travis Long. The
senior linebacker has been a menace to opposing quarterbacks with the second
most sacks in the conference (9.5). Long has also been solid in pass defense
with an interception and five passes defended. Speaking of play against the
pass, Deone Bucannon has been stellar in the secondary with a team-leading 78
tackles and four interceptions.

Taylor Kelly played one of his worst games of the season for Arizona State in
the loss to USC. The Sun Devil quarterback did complete 63.3 percent of his
pass attempts (19-for-30) but finished with only 174 yards and was intercepted
three times. It didn't help that he was sacked a season-high seven times.
Kelly has really struggled during the Sun Devils' swoon with seven of his nine
interceptions this season coming during the last four games. He has also threw
for fewer than 200 yards in each contest including a season-low 93-yard
showing against Oregon. Thanks to strong play early in the season, Kelly's
numbers (2,335 yards, 21 TDs, 9 INTs) are still solid. Kelly is also a threat
with his legs as he has picked up 374 yards rushing this season.

Arizona State's offense has really relied on its running backs to perform well
in a variety of roles. For the third straight week running back Marion Grice
finished with at least six receptions against USC while also rushing the ball
five times. He finished with only 15 yards on those five carries but has
rushed for 331 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Grice has 361 yards
receiving this season and a team-high seven touchdowns. D.J. Foster has also
been used in a number of ways with 393 yards on the ground and 473 yards
(second on the team) through the air. Cameron Marshall has been more of a
traditional back with 428 yards and six touchdowns rushing and only 12
receptions this season.

In terms of pass-catchers that do not normally line up in the backfield tight
end Chris Coyle has been the primary option. He leads the team in receptions
(48) and yards (586), while hauling in three touchdowns.

In the offensive driven Pac-12, Arizona State fits in well scoring 35.0 points
per game while racking up 437 yards of total offense a game.

The Sun Devils are still one of the top defensive units in the conference this
season, ranking second behind Stanford in total defense (344.7ypg). Quick
strikes have been a bit of a weakness for the Sun Devil defense with the team
allowing seven plays of 50 or more yards this season, which is tied for the
second most in the Pac-12.

Brandon Magee leads the ASU defense this season. The linebacker paces the team
with 83 tackles and has also recorded 5.5 sacks and recorded a pair of
interceptions. The pass rush has been enhanced by the efforts of Will Sutton
(10.5 sacks, leads Pac-12), Carl Bradford (8.5 sacks) and Chris Young (13.5
tackles for loss).

Perhaps Arizona State was not as defensively sound as it appeared in the first
few weeks. However against a one-dimensional Washington State team that is
without its best offensive weapon, the Sun Devils should be able to get back
to their early success.